jerkwater \ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷\adjective orjerk Etymology:jerk (I) + water; from the fact that rural trains took on water that was carried in buckets from the source of supply 1.: insignificant and remote < a jerkwater town > < a jerkwater college > 2.: contemptibly petty, narrow, or trivial : piddling < a jerkwater carnival act > < a jerkwater politician >